ABSTRACT
Scotland has a distinct legal and judicial system based on Roman law. The country is divided into six sheriffdoms, each containing 49 sheriff courts. The High Court of Justiciary has jurisdiction over the most serious criminal offences, which are tried by jury. It also serves as the highest court for criminal cases. The judges in this court also sit in Scotland’s highest civil court, the Court of Session. In civil disputes, parties can appeal to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Scots law governs the legal framework for the care and treatment of people with mental disorders, intersecting with both UK law and European Union regulations.
